Ryan Moody motors his Yellowfin 34 across the water near to his home in Galveston. The boat is ideal for both inshore and offshore excursions. Photo by Stuart Villanueva

Islander jumps on chance to buy a Yellowfin 34 offshore yacht

Galveston resident Ryan Moody steers his prized Yellowfin 34 offshore boat out of its berth at his home on Galveston’s West End, with a big smile on his face.

The island native and lifelong boater has seen and owned many watercraft through the years, but this 2014 model, which Moody has owned for about a year, ranks near his most prized, he said.

“When I was a young baby, I used to spend all day out on the water,” he said. “That’s why I love boating so much. Now, it just costs a ton of money.”

As Moody plies down a canal near his home, the Yellowfin cruises along as smooth as can be, nearly silent.

Moody points out the boat’s features while keeping one hand steady on the wheel.

The yacht comes complete with radar, twin Garmin GPS devices, night vision and radio to name just a few things, Moody said. The boat also holds 380 gallons of fuel — useful for long treks out to far-flung fishing locations, such as the Flower Gardens.

The yacht, which Moody has named Sail Pending in reference to his day job as a real estate broker, reaches cruising speeds of 50 mph, about 20 mph faster than his previous boat, he said.

The boat is complete with three Yahama 300 engines, Moody said.

“We go out on it a lot,” he said. “It’s just a clean, fast, dry ride.”

Yellowfin Yachts, headquartered in Florida, began in 1998 when company leaders set out to create a top-line fishing boat that could perform well offshore, according to an article in the Atlantic Yacht & Ship Inc. The first Yellowfin, a 31-foot console yacht, later debuted in 2000.

Moody first stumbled upon the brand several years ago, and had been on the lookout for one for a long time, he said. But the brand is especially popular in Florida, with many of them disappearing before someone in Texas could make it over to buy one.

The yacht, which Moody named Sail Pending, can seat as many as 15 people during outings to the sandbar, Ryan Moody said. Photo by Stuart Villanueva

A new Yellowfin 34 might sell for as much as $450,000, Moody estimated.

But as luck would have it, a friend who owned a 2014 model put the boat up for sale, and Moody pounced at the opportunity, he said.

Before purchasing the Yellowfin, Moody had been boating on a 32-foot Contender, he said.

The Yellowfin might seat as many as 15 people during weekends out on the sand bar, Moody said. But during trips offshore to fish for red snapper, tuna and other fish, Moody might limit the boat to four or six people.

“We fish, we hang out, we go cruising, we go up to Kemah, we’ll take it out to the beach,” Moody said.

It’s just a good boat, Moody said.